Seattle Schools Disciplining Black Students At Alarming Rate
By Staff
Washington state has been called the liberal Pacific Northwest, which conjures up romantic notions of a place were people are more sensitive to and encouraging of racial difference, particularly in public spaces such as American schools. But recent information from the U. S. Department of Education has launched an investigation into disturbing allegations of racial discrimination against African American students by disciplining them more frequently and more harshly than their white counterparts.
African-American students are suspended from school more than three times as often as white students from elementary schools to high schools. More than one-fourth of black middle school students have received short-term suspensions every year since 1996. Native Americans, as well, are disciplined more often than Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Parents and administrators have been aware of this issue of alarmingly high black student discipline rates for years, and now the Department of Education is involved.
The District Superintendent, José Banda, acknowledged that there are problems with student discipline and said he intends to do something about the disparities. “I think we have a serious problem here…we acknowledge that…the data is clear…there is a disproportionate number of students of color being suspended and expelled…It’s something that we’re moving on, in addition to working with the Department of Education, who are conducting their own review,” Banda said.
Two advisory review boards have been set up by the Seattle Public Schools to study the exorbitantly high numbers of incidences related to Blacks and school discipline and, hopefully, make policy recommendations. The NAACP and American Civil Liberties Union of Washington both expressed concerned about the 50,000 students suspended or expelled in the state each year, which only hastens the school-to-prison pipeline that young black people experience in general in American schools.
It’s a good idea to investigate what is happening in these schools, if the numbers are so high showing that Black students are getting expelled or otherwise disciplined more than any other students.
Sad to say… some of the problems in our schools have been generated by the constant attempts to turn students into “test taking machines” — (NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND)… using boring lectures most of the time. Lecturing has its place, but should not be used MOST of the time….as is not the best way to teach certain topics….or to give students a chance to express what they have been learning.
In the case of BLACK STUDENTS…there is a dire need to teach more about BLACK HISTORY and CULTURAL DIVERSITY…so that they can learn more about role models, events, and experiences that directly connect with them.
It is past time to set up new methods….unique and interesting ways of teaching…that permit students to express some creativity…to learn to solve problems…and to interact with each other in groups.
All of that said… this is only one way to improve rowdy behavior. Schools can also set up “group counseling” so that students have a chance to discuss their problems.
And …. they may want to look into what kind of REWARDS are offered for good behavior. Honey catches a lot of flies.
* Suggested book = A SCHOOL IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE….
and…. EDUTAINMENT GAME BOOK…..
…and GOLDEN GIFTS …. (amazon.com)
In 2013 america – for its past and forseeable future – education is honey.
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